Camp agenda: Youth Camp Agendas, Outlines, and Schedules – Write Learn Lead

Overnight Camp | YMCA Camp Ernst

Helping people grow in spirit, mind, body, and friendship since 1928. YMCA Camp Ernst is the most popular summer camp in the Greater Cincinnati area. Steeped in tradition and built on the YMCA values of honesty, caring, responsibility and respect, Camp Ernst hosts campers who enjoy top-notch counselors and make friends, doing a wide variety of activities including our ropes course, 100 ft waterslide, ropes course, archery, horseback riding, and much more!

• Week-long Camp (ages 6-15)

• Crew (age 15)

• Shorter Sessions (ages 5-10)

• Overnight Camp Activities

• Meals

Week-long Camp (ages 6-15)

Week Long Sessions

Campers ages 6 to 15 enjoy week long overnight sessions from Sunday until Saturday during June, July, and August. Campers stay in cabins with top notch counselors and enjoy all the fun activities Camp Ernst has to offer, including the lake, ropes course and traditional camp activities.

Lakeview Campers

(Typically grades 1-4)
The Lakeview program is specifically for our 6 to 9-year-old campers. Lakeview campers will live in the Lakeview Lodge, which has all amenities under one roof. While Lakeview campers participate in the typical camp activities with their cabin and counselors, they will also engage in special traditions, which add a wacky twist to each day. These include Monday Night Madness, Word of the Day, and Wheel of Wonder.

Valley Campers

(Typically grades 5-7)
The valley is divided into two separate camper units; Red and Yellow. Campers live in traditional cabins and have meals served from the historic dining hall. Campers will have fun and build friendships while participating in all the typical camp activities, such as the ropes course, lakefront, and traditional activities like Archery and slingshots. Campers and Staff take pride in the valley, with traditions like cookouts, themed evening programs, and vespers make each evening full of fun.

The Leaders In Training (LITS)

(Typically grades 8, 9, & 10)
The L.I.T (Leaders In Training) program is designed for our oldest campers. Leaders will live in the Loft and Longhouse, cabins designed to foster community. In addition to traditional camp activities, campers will also participate in leadership rotations that focus on team-building, communication, and role-modeling. LITs enjoy traditions like LIT Cookout, Dodgeball, and a favorite…the LIT After Party.

Sample Schedule

Times vary based on age group and unit.

Register NowDates & RatesSee the cabins

Crew (age 15)

The Camp Ernst Crew Program is a leadership experience for those entering the 10th grade. The program, housed in the Yurt Village, is designed to help participants gain leadership skills through trainings and experiential service-learning. Crew participants form a tight-knit group as they work together to complete a variety of tasks and activities every day. Crew members will leave the Crew program with a desire to serve others as well as having grown in Spirit, Mind, Body, and Friendship.

Crew Information Packet

We highly recommend anyone interested in our crew program take time to read the crew information packet. This packet includes important information about the crew program, session dates and rates, registration process, and frequently asked questions.

Crew 101

Wrangler Crew

The Wrangler Crew program is a leadership experience for those interested in our Ranch program. Participants will spend time learning how to teach and lead barn programs and will get a chance to put into action what they have learned. Riding lessons and group training, along with trail riding, barn chores like cleaning stalls, grooming horses, and feeding the goats will also be included. Wrangler crew members will be at the barn during much of the day and with other crew members in the evening.

Shorter Sessions (ages 5-10)

Introduction To Overnight Camp

Campers ages five to nine can try this exciting 24-hour long Intro to Overnight camp on select dates during the summer. This program is a great introduction to see if a week-long Camp Ernst experience is right for them. Campers will stay in a cabin with counselors, eat yummy camp meals, and experience a small sampling of awesome Camp Ernst activities. Times may vary.

Traditional Half Week Camp

Campers ages six to ten who are looking for more than a one night stay but not quite ready for a full week of summer camp can try out this three night Half Week camp during select dates during the summer. Campers will stay in a cabin with counselors, eat yummy camp meals, and experience a sampling of awesome Camp Ernst activities. Times may vary.

Register NowDates & Rates

Overnight Camp Activities

Ropes Course

The “Double Disco,” our new high discovery ropes course challenges campers to grow in personal confidence and team building.

The Ropes Course is inspected by a state-licensed professional and all campers and staff utilize helmets, harnesses, professional climbing ropes, and carabiners.

Traditional Activities

At Camp Ernst, days are filled with activities at the Ropes Course, Ranch, and the Lakefront, but that’s not all! Campers will also enjoy:

• Archery
• Nature
• Crafts
• Slingshots
• Sports
• Ga-Ga
• Swimming
• Hiking

Camp Glossary Video

Lakefront

Camp Ernst lake is a 26-acre, spring-fed, lake with hours of fun docked and waiting for you! The lake includes canoes, kayaks, aqua cycles, 100-foot waterslide, the rockit, corcls and more!

Western Ranch

Our Rockin’ E Ranch with The Stables at YMCA Camp Ernst, funded by the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Foundation, includes two riding arenas, a 30+ horse herd, and miles of trails! Every summer we offer a variety of programs for campers of all riding levels. Whether it’s a trail ride or a full week program, you are sure to find a program that will fit your needs.

View More

Our kitchen team, led by Food Service Director Javier Villanueva, works hard to make delicious kid-friendly meals each day.

Our 2023 menu will be posted in Spring 2023. For reference, you can view the 2022 menu here.

If your camper has dietary needs, please complete the form using the link below.

We are able to accommodate different dietary needs, including peanut/tree nut allergies, gluten allergies, dairy intolerance, and vegetarian and vegan diets. While YMCA Camp Ernst staff works closely with families regarding excellent accommodation of food allergies, please note that ours is not a peanut-free or gluten facility and, thus, the possibility of exposure does still exist.

If your camper has special dietary needs, please submit this form at least two weeks before your camper’s week.

Dietary Needs Form

Overnight Camp Schedule & Activities

Arrival & Departure | Daily Activities | Waterfront Activities | Overnight Camping Trips

Arrival & Departure

About two weeks before your session, watch for a reminder e-mail for detailed Check-In and Check-Out schedules.  

Arrival

You may arrive at camp no earlier than 2:00 p.m. for Check-In on the first day of your camper’s session.

The opening ceremony is at 3:30 p.m., and families depart by 4:30 p.m.

Departure

You may arrive at camp for Check-Out no earlier than 9:30 a.m. on the last day of your camper’s session.

You will reunite with your camper at the closing ceremony at 10:00 a.m., and families depart immediately after.

Teen trip and Family Camp participants will have a slightly different schedule for Check-In and Check-Out days.

Remember to check for lost and found items, pick up leftover medications, and check your camper’s balance in the camp store before you leave camp.

Transportation

Wildwood does not provide transportation to and from camp, but you are welcome to arrange carpools with other families. Get driving directions.

Pets

For the health and safety of everyone in our community, pets or other animals may not be brought to camp, even on check-in/check-out days!

Daily Activities

Shortly after camp begins, campers learn about the activities that will be offered during their session and make their activity requests.  So that they are prepared for all camp activities and changing weather, each camper should always carry a backpack containing a rain jacket and water bottle and should wear or carry closed-toe shoes with socks.

Learn more about daily activities >

Waterfront Activities

Wildwood offers a variety of water activities including kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle-boarding, sailing, and swimming, for recreation and to explore the habitats around Hubbard Pond. We may limit waterfront use at any time, based on weather or other factors. For everyone’s safety, we use a check-in/check-out “buddy board” system.

Wildwood has several floating play structures on our waterfront. These may be used by a small number of campers at a time, and PFDs (lifejackets) must be worn.

Swim Checks

All campers take part in a waterfront safety orientation and swim check on the first full day of the session. The swim check determines how they can participate in waterfront activities. Campers can ask waterfront staff to recheck their skills during OATs anytime during the session. While Wildwood does not offer swimming lessons, beginning swimmers or non-swimmers who want to develop their skills may arrange to work on skills with staff members.

Depending on what skills a swimmer demonstrates during the swim check, they will be placed in one of three categories of swimmer.

Fish/Green (Strong Swimmers) 

• Swim four lengths between the east and west docks without stopping, using a stroke of the camper’s choice.
• Tread water for five minutes with one hand out of the water for the final minute.
• Duck underwater and retrieve sand/stone from the bottom of the pond in the Fish Swim Area (about 6’ deep).
• Fish/green swim area stretches from the cross dock out to the floating raft.
• Fish may swim in fish/green, amphibian/yellow, or reptile/red areas during OATS.
• Fish may paddle a kayak or canoe with another Fish, an Amphibian, or a staff member during OATS.
• Fish may sign up for any boating IGs and DGs. 

Amphibian/Yellow (Beginning Swimmers) 

• Swim two lengths between east and west docks without stopping, using a stroke of the camper’s choice.
• Amphibian/yellow swim area is between the first buoy line and cross dock.
• Amphibians may swim in amphibian/yellow or reptile/red areas during OATs.
• Amphibians may paddle a kayak or canoe with a Fish or staff member during OATs.
• Amphibians may sign up for canoeing or kayaking IGs and DGs.

Reptile/Red (Non-Swimmers) 

• Those not taking a swim check or not completing Amphibian skills.
• Reptile/red water area is from the water’s edge to the first buoy line.
• Reptiles can be in the reptile/red water area during OATs.
• Reptiles may use a boat with a staff member during OATs.
• Reptiles may sign up for canoeing or kayaking IGs and DGs but must paddle with a staff member

Boating

Campers who want to participate in boating activities will complete a “tippy-test” as part of the waterfront orientation. This includes learning how to safely overturn a canoe or double kayak with a partner and exit the overturned boat, and demonstrating these important safety skills. More advanced instruction in self-rescue techniques is learned and practiced in boating IGs.

Everyone wears a PFD (lifejacket) during all boating activities.

While we do our best to make sure that every camper who wants to has an opportunity to participate in boating activities, we cannot guarantee your camper’s participation in a particular boating activity. The number of campers who can participate in boating IGs is limited by equipment and available staff. However, we will offer recreational boating during DGs and OATs whenever possible. Because sailing is particularly popular but requires a greater level of instruction and time, sailing is usually not offered during OATs. We encourage campers and their families to remember that waterfront activities are only one part of camp’s variety!

Overnight Camping Trip for Two-week session Overnight Campers and LITs

Two-week session campers and LITs participate in overnight camping trips. Wildwood provides foam tent pads to use on unit trips.

Carson, Fossey, Leopold, and Thoreau campers spend one night at campsites on Wildwood’s property on Hubbard Pond.

Dillard and Abbey campers are transported in camp vans or school buses to campsites for two nights at nearby Mt. Monadnock.

Campers sleep in tents with other same-gender campers, help to prepare meals over a camp stove or campfire, make S’mores, hike, play games, and learn about unique natural features of their location.

LITs plan a longer trip, including travel farther from Wildwood and special activities like canoeing.

The program of activities of the camp with a day stay for children “Constellation”

Content of the program.

1. Explanatory note.
2. Goals and objectives of organizing the work of the camp.
3. Content and forms of program implementation.
4. Program implementation conditions.
5. Program performance criteria.
6. Estimated results of the program.
7. Experience in implementation.
8. Work plan.
9. Literature.

Explanatory note .

Summer big break is given to schoolchildren to improve their health, physical training, and recuperate after a long school year. But this is also the time of their enrichment, the time of action, testing and testing their strengths, the time of development and understanding of the world around them. As a rule, active recreation of children takes place in sports and health camps, in sanatoriums, at school summer recreation grounds.

In order to organize summer holidays for children on the basis of MBOU secondary school No. 50, a summer recreation camp is organized with daytime stay for children. It is planned to take 85 students in one shift. The age of children is from 7 to 15 years. The duration of the shift is 21 days. It is planned that the summer camp will be attended by children from families with low incomes, large families, children under guardianship, children who have dropped out of kindergarten due to their age, as well as children from disadvantaged families.

The camp shift is due to the need:

• Continuation of the educational process during the summer;
• Low social standard of living of the population;
• Reducing the protective capabilities of the body of children;
• Psychological depression of children from the inability to find their place in life, which pushes children into the abyss of alcoholism and drug addiction;
• The problem of summer employment of children;
• Student health promotion;

When writing the program, the teaching staff was guided by the principles laid down in the educational system of the school:

• Principle of moral attitude to each other, to the surrounding world;
• The principle of creative attitude to business;
• The principle of voluntary participation in affairs;
• The principle of taking into account the age characteristics of children;
• The principle of accessibility of selected forms of work;
• The principle of individualization in working with children.

The analysis of the work of the health-improving summer camp of the past years has shown that the work built in the form of a game is very effective. Last year the camp worked under the Rainbow program. Working according to the program, we can conclude that the guys are happy to take part in sports activities. Children created their own sports teams, took an active part in games, relay races, competitions, empathized with each other, kept a chronicle of the sports achievements of their squad. The opportunity to personally plunge into the world of sports and show their sports skills left none of the children indifferent.

All this became possible thanks to the thoughtful work of adults and the active position of children. After analyzing the work of the camp over the past year, the team of teachers and students came to the conclusion that such work should be continued, but in order not to be repeated, they decided to change the name and some rules. This year the work of the camp shift will take place in “outer space”. At the council, it was decided that over the past seasons, the children have become more erudite, physically resilient. One detachment will be involved in labor landings, some of the guys will work as counselors with kids. Therefore, the program was called “Constellation”.

The program was developed taking into account the legislative and regulatory documents:

— UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;

– Law of the Russian Federation “On Education”;

– Order of the Ministry of Education dated 07/13/2001 No. 2688 “On the establishment of a procedure for conducting shifts of profile camps, with day stay, labor and recreation camps.”

– Regional law “On the organization and provision of recreation and recreation for children” dated 10.03.2010.

Opening hours of the summer health camp with day stay for children “Constellation” from June 3 to June 28 (21 working days).

The camp is open from 8.30 to 14.30.

Orientation:

The program is comprehensive, covers all possible areas of activity in a day camp, while combining activities for the education, upbringing, health improvement and recreation of children into a single system:

• Organizational;
• Intelligent;
• Sports and recreation;
• Creative;
• Ecological
• Civil-patriotic.

The work of the summer camp takes place in close cooperation with:

– Library named after. Makovsky

– Library fund of the school

– DK Krasnoyarsk.

Two meals a day, organized on the basis of the school canteen.

Goals and objectives of the program.

The purpose of the program is to create a system of interesting, diverse in form and content recreation and recreation for children.

Objectives of the program:

1. Organization of an interesting, high-grade rest for a child.
2. Creation of conditions for the disclosure and development of the creative potential of everyone.
3. Organization of joint activities of children and adults.
4. Provision of methodological and practical assistance in organizing and holding events.
5. Formation of independence and responsibility for one’s activities, formation of the child’s emotional-volitional sphere.
6. Improving the system of organizing extracurricular activities for children.
7. Formation of aspects of a new attitude – ecological consciousness and culture, the formation of the foundations of a healthy lifestyle in children.

Content and forms of program implementation.

The implementation of the goals and objectives of the shift is carried out according to the program. All students are divided into four teams of different ages. Each detachment (crew) plans its work taking into account the general work plan of the camp. The center of everything is the “space flotilla” traveling in space. The flotilla is located on 4 spaceships. Children come up with the names of their ships and mottos themselves.

Each day of the shift will be dedicated to the discovery of one of the space objects called:

• Meeting Planet
• Sports Planet
• Self-Government Planet
• Comet of outdoor games
• Planet of young ecologists
• Fairy Nebula
• Movie star
• Pedestrian Planet
• Courtesy Planet
• Patriot Star
• Young Firemen’s Comet
• Planet Multipultia
• Asteroid of young tourists
• Radiance of Music
• Astronauts’ Planet
• Planet of intellectuals
• Not sick planet
• Planet of Records
• Planet of Heroes
• Planet “crazy hands”
• Planet of talents.

Program Implementation Mechanism

Participants of the day camp summer camp program are:

Management structure.

Tsup – head of the camp shift

Ship crews:

Admiral of the Flotilla – children

captains – children.

Flight attendants – caregivers.

Dispatchers – detachment leaders

Cosmonauts – children.

The task of the MCC, flight attendants and dispatchers is to organize the planned work of the camp shift. Every day at planning meetings, the past work is analyzed and the next business is planned.

The crew participation strategy is organized by flight attendants and dispatchers.

Each crew creates its own life system, approves symbols, issues a shift log, which reflects the life of the crew every day. At the end of the camp shift, there will be a competition for in-flight magazines.

All information about the conditions of participation in a particular case is presented on the information stand. The stand was made in the form of a starry sky (universe), where the center is a space flotilla. Traveling in outer space, astronauts (children) discover every day a new, previously unknown planet. There are 21 planets in total – according to the number of days the children stay in the camp. The crew of cosmonauts who were the first to discover the planet (the winner in the general camp case), sets up their symbolic flag on the planet and colorfully decorates the planet depending on the theme of the day. Thus, it will be clearly visible what successes have been achieved by a particular team.

Near the starry sky (universe), it is planned to place an information stand, which will present the Laws and Commandments of travel, working hours, work plan and information reflecting the results of the past day.

Of course, the creators of the Program do not deny that something may not work. In 21 days, our Space Marines may encounter various surprises. It can be space pirates, and UFOs, and meteor showers and solar eclipses, and an unexpected waterfall of stars.

Every member of the spacecraft, from the captain to the astronaut, must observe the Laws and Commandments.

Laws:

The law of precise time.

The law of kindness.

Law of decency.

The law of friendship.

Safety law.

The law of mutual assistance.

Commandments:

The crew is one family.

One for all and all for one.

Order first.

Every business together

Do everything creatively, otherwise why?

Even if it’s difficult, see it through to the end.

Cleanliness is the guarantee of health.

The fulfillment of all the Laws and Commandments involves making life in the camp interesting and rich, bringing joy to oneself and others.

The cosmonaut crew developed a system to stimulate success and personal growth. Each cosmonaut can receive “star” daily for active participation in the life of the crew and the ship as a whole. If the crew is dialed 10 “stars”, then they can be exchanged for one big star. At the end of the camp shift, the results are summed up: the number of discovered planets by one or another crew of astronauts is counted, as well as the number of “stars” in general. As a result, the winners receive prizes and awards.

Program implementation conditions.

For the successful implementation of the program, a number of conditions must be met:

1. A clear idea of ​​goals and setting tasks.
2. Specific activity planning.
3. Program staffing.
4. Methodological support of the program.
5. Pedagogical conditions.
6. Logistics.

Staffing.

Selection and placement of personnel is carried out by the school administration. Before the start of the camp shift, an introductory seminar is held for all program participants (except children). Each group has one teacher and two counselors. All other participants in the educational process carry out work according to the plan. Teachers are responsible for the life and health of children, the implementation of the educational plan, the conduct of detachment (crew) and general camp affairs. Counselors participate in work crew-cosmonauts , and are also involved in the organization of detachment (crew) life.

Methodological support.

1. Availability of the camp program, work plans of detachments, grid plan.
2. Job descriptions of all participants in the process.
3. Conducting an orientation seminar for all workers during the camp shift.
4. Selection of methodological developments in accordance with the work plan.
5. Conducting daily meetings.
6. Development of a tracking and debriefing system.

Pedagogical conditions.

1. Selection of pedagogical means, taking into account age and individual characteristics, contributing to the successful self-realization of children.
2. Organization of various activities.
3. Voluntary inclusion of children in the organization of camp life.
4. Creating a situation of success.
5. Systematic informing about the results of the day.
6. Organization of various types of incentives.

Logistics.

1. Selection of optimal conditions and venues for various events.
2. Materials for decoration and creativity of children.
3. Availability of stationery.
4. Audio materials and video equipment.
5. Prizes and awards for incentives.

Performance criteria

programs.

In order for the program to work, it is necessary to create such conditions that each participant in the process (adults and children) finds his place, is happy to take on duties and assignments, and also gladly participates in the proposed activities. To fulfill these conditions, the following performance criteria have been developed:

• Setting realistic goals and planning program results;
• Interest of teachers and children in the implementation of the program, favorable psychological climate;
• Satisfaction of children and adults with the proposed forms of work;
• Creative collaboration between adults and children.

Estimated results

of the program.

With the active participation of children and adults in the implementation of the program, it is expected that everyone will have a sense of belonging to a large team of like-minded people.

The success of children in various activities will increase social activity, give confidence in their strengths and talents.

With good nutrition, medical supervision and properly organized sports activities, it is supposed to improve children’s health and promptly pay attention to health problems, if they exist.

Excursions, hikes, trips will help children acquire new knowledge about their native land and teach them to treat their small Motherland with care and love.

It is assumed that the time spent in the camp will not pass unnoticed, neither for adults nor for children, and next year they will be happy to participate in the work of the camp.

Implementation experience.

Taking into account the experience of the last year, it is safe to say that the program of the summer recreation area, built in the form of a game, is producing positive results. The guys who attended the summer camp last year became more sociable, physically resilient, revealed their hidden talents, became more active in school life. There are a lot of people who want to attend the camp this year, which indicates that the work is being done in the right direction. This year it is expected that the Program will consolidate the results of the previous year and give impetus to the development of new creative abilities. The program is designed in such a way that, when finalized, it can be used as an educational system for a single class during the school year. Also, the idea can be safely used in the work of any children’s associations.

Work planning.

When drawing up a work plan, the possibilities of teams of different ages, the interests of children, teachers, parents and ways of implementation are taken into account. In the work of the camp shift, it is planned to actively involve the society of the village: Houses of culture, a library, a youth center. Also planned trips to the island of Tatyshva, to the pool.

Literature:

1. A.N. Nikulnikov, Novosibirsk. 2006.
2. Series: “Holiday at school”. Minsk. “Krasiko-Print”. 2007.
3. Newspaper “Pedagogical Council” for 2000-2013.
4. Newspaper: “Last call” for 2000-2013.
5. Scientific and practical journal “Head teacher of elementary school”, No. 2 – 2008.
6. “Unusual holidays at home? at school and in the yard. L. Sokolova. 2007.

Day mode.

8.30 – 9.00 – Gathering of astronauts.

9.00 – 9.15 – Morning exercises “Meeting with a humanoid”.

9.15 – 9.30 – Gathering of the ship’s crew (organizational line).

9.30 am – 10.00 am – Breakfast of an Earthling.

10.00 – 12.00 – “The crew is one family” (general camp business).

12.00 – 13.00 – “Cosmostarts” (sports and recreation hour).

13.00 – 13.30 – Martian lunch.

13.30 – 14.30 – An hour in the crew (in the detachment).

14.30 – 15.00 – Briefing of the ship’s crew (planning). Children leaving home.

Download Day Camp Activity Schedule

Oz Young Pioneer Camp Program